US Judge Halts Trump's Dismissal of Voice of America Staff

The judge described the Trump administration's attempt to shut down Voice of America as a "textbook example of arbitrary and capricious decision-making."

A U.S. judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration's attempt to shut down Voice of America (VOA), a U.S.-funded international news organization.

The court deemed the move a "classic case of arbitrary and capricious decision-making."

In his ruling, Judge James Paul Oetken stopped the administration from dismissing more than 1,200 journalists, engineers, and other staff members who had been abruptly placed on leave earlier this month, though he did not order the resumption of broadcasts.

Oetken’s order also prohibited the U.S. Agency for Global Media—which oversees VOA, Radio Free Europe, and other government-funded media—from making any further attempts to fire, furlough, or place employees and contractors on leave.

The order also prohibited the agency from closing any offices or ordering overseas employees to return to the U.S.

The lawsuit was brought by VOA employees, their unions, and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), who argued that the shutdown violated workers' First Amendment right to free speech.

Plaintiffs Hail Court Ruling

“This is a significant victory for press freedom and the First Amendment, as well as a strong rebuke to the Trump administration’s blatant disregard for the principles that uphold our democracy,” said Andrew G. Celli Jr., the plaintiffs' attorney.

Clayton Weimers, executive director of RSF USA, also welcomed the decision. “We are very pleased that the judge has halted the government's efforts to dismantle Voice of America,” he said.

“We call on the Trump administration to immediately restore funding for VOA and reinstate its employees without further delay,” Weimers added.